Lock system and vending machines or the like using the same

ABSTRACT

A lock or release system for use with vending machines or other lockable devices. The lock has a receiver such as a keyhole into which &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;money,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; e.g. in the form of a key or other shaped token, is inserted for unlocking the lock. An operable key engaging member is associated with the lock to pull the key through the lock after the lock has been unlocked. One type of vending machine has a storage area accessible to the customer so that the customer can handle and examine items prior to purchase, but cannot withdraw the items from the storage area. A chute is provided which is accessible from the storage area and in which the customer places the selected item. The chute has an escapement mechanism which blocks delivery of the item out of the machine to the customer. The escapement mechanism is operated by manipulating a delivery lever to release the item for delivery through the chute. The delivery lever is conditioned by unlocking the lock with a key which can be purchased for the purchase price of the items stored in the machine. The key engaging member is a flange member which is operated by the delivery lever to pull the key inwardly within the vending machine while the selected item is being released from the escapement mechanism so that the key cannot be reused by the customer and the customer obtains only one item per key.

United States Patent [191 Dunn et al.

[ 1 July 15, 1975 [75] Inventors: Lyman D. Dunn, Chicago 111; John T. Shields, Terre Haute, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Marlan Company Chicago Ill.

[22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 [21] Appl No.: 398,181

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser, No, 377,558, July 9.

1973, abandoned.

Primary Examiner-Stanley H, Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee and Sweeney I57] ABSTRACT A lock or release system for use with vending ma chines or other lockable devices The lock has a receiver such as a keyhole into which money," e.g. in the form of a key or other shaped token, is inserted for unlocking the lock. An operable key engaging member is associated with the lock to pull the key throughthe look after the lock has been unlocked.

One type of vending machine has a storage area accessible to the customer so that the customer can handle and examine items prior to purchase, but cannot withdraw the items from the storage area A chute is provided which is accessible from the storage area and in which the customer places the selected item The chute has an escapement mechanism which blocks delivery of the item out of the machine to the customer The escapement mechanism is operated by manipulating a delivery lever to release the item for delivery through the chute. The delivery lever is conditioned by unlocking the lock with a key which can be purchased for the purchase price of the items stored in the machine The key engaging member is a flange member which is operated by the delivery lever to pull the key inwardly within the vending machine while the selected item is being released from the escapement mechanism so that the key cannot be reused by the customer and the Customer obtains only one item per key 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LOCK SYSTEM AND VENDING MACHINES OR THE LIKE USING THE SAME CROSS REFERENCE TO COPENDING APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 377,558. filed July 9, 1973 and entitled Vending Machine" now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vending machines have long been used to decrease the cost of labor involved in over-the-counter sales. The machines are also useful in dispensing small items and minimizing shoplifting. However, there are a number of types of items which require examination by the purchaser before the purchase is made. Over-thecounter retail sales outlets which handle these articles are not staffed with sufficient personnel to eliminate shoplifting and loss through breakage or the like because the items cannot be both locked up and still be available for examination. Additionally, the sales time expended while the purchaser is inspecting the articles is much greater than with a more usual over-thecounter sale where the purchaser does not require inspection.

In our above-mentioned copending application Ser. No. 377,558, we have described a simplified coin, token or otherwise operated vending machine which is especially suited for vending items such as stereo tapes or the like, and which permits a shopper to manually select the goods to be purchased prior to depositing a coin or token for receiving the selected goods. That vending machine includes an enclosure for containing the articles and has an opening through which the user can insert his hand to manually select an article for purchase but through which the article cannot be directly retrieved by the purchaser.

Where the items for sale are fairly expensive and require the depositing of bills into such a machine to obtain release of the selected goods, the money receiving mechanism of the machine for discerning the amounts deposited is extremely complex and prohibitively expensive. The alternative of requiring a purchaser to use a large number of coins to deposit in a less complicated coin receiving mechanism is an inconvenience for the user of the machine as well as for the machine attendant who would have to maintain and supply large amounts of change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to locking structures for use with vending machines or other lockable devices. The locking structure is especially useful in those vending machines where the customer has manual access to the merchandise being vended but cannot withdraw the merchandise from the machine without first paying for it. The invention further relates to locking means for use with such machines which decreases or eliminates the possibility of the customer obtaining more than a predetermined number of items of merchandise for any given purchase price. Of course, the invention has applicability for use with any device, such as rented storage boxes where one-time use of a key would be applicable.

The present invention provides, for use in a vending machine or other apparatus which can be operated by inserting a key, a new and improved novel lock system using a key of a predetermined size and shape for activating an article delivery system or simply a release device. The key unlocks the delivery system and during operation of the delivery system, the vending machine irretrievably accepts the key so that it cannot be used again by the customer. In addition, the delivery system includes a mechanism for preventing delivery of more than a predetermined number of articles for each key used.

Although the present invention is described in terms of the use of a key" for unlocking a lock, it is intended that any form or representation of money can be used including tokens, slugs, coded cards or the like which have an engageable element for pulling through a keyhole or the like and into the machine interior when the purchase is made. Also, it is intended that any form of receiver which functions to release or activate a release system on receipt of such a key, token, slug, card, etc., can be used as the lock. The invention is especially adaptive for use with stiff or rigid money or money representation as opposed to paper money or bills.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment thereof, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a vending machine embodying concepts of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lock construction and a delivery system of the vending machine of FIG. 1, showing the delivery mechanism prior to delivery of a selected item; and

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the lock construction and tape delivery system of FIG. 1, but showing the delivery mechanism in position withdrawing a key from the lock construction during operation of the delivery system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown herein as adapted for use in a product vending machine such as a stereo tape vending machine which permits the customer to examine the product prior to purchasing it. Referring to FIG. 1, the vending machine illustrated has a cabinet 10 which includes a storage area 12 with appropriate shelves 13 for supporting stereo tapes l4 and is provided with front wall access openings 16 defined by a grid 18. The openings 16 are large enough for a customers hand to enter the machine but small enough to prevent withdrawal of the tapes from the machine. Such a structure is shown in our aforementioned pending application. Once the customer has selected the stereo tape he wants, he places it in a tape delivery system in the form of a blocked chute 20 and inserts a key of a predetermined configuration which he has previously purchased into keyhole 22 of a lock construction 24. The key 22 unlocks lock construction 24 to release or unlock a pushrod 26 which is manipulated by the customer to unblock chute 20. The customers selected stereo tape then slides down chute until it abuts chute lip 20a where the tape can be retrieved. During the stereo tape retrieval operation, the vending machine removes the key from the keyhole 22 inwardly within the machine so that it cannot be used by the customer for a second purchase. Preferably, the device is provided with interlocks which assure that the key will be taken by the machine and that the customer will receive only a predetermined number of selected items from the machine for each key used, usually one item per key.

Preferably, an installation is equipped with a plurality of the vending machines. Each of the machines can be provided with a different lock for receiving a key of a different shape. Each machine would contain stereo tapes of the same price but of a different price from those in the other machines. Thus, the installation can vend a variety of tapes having different prices and periodically interchange lock construction to prevent planned theft.

More particularly, in order to prevent a customer from purchasing a key and then duplicating the key for making multiple purchases at a later time, the locks on the vending machine can be periodically changed or, in the case of an installation, the tumbler barrels can be interchanged between the machines to provide a wide variety of lock combinations. In this manner, the locks and key shapes could be changed on a very frequent basis, e.g., daily.

Returning now to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 2, when a tape is deposited in chute 20, the tape rests on blocking plate (or rod) 28 which forms part of an escapement mechanism described in more detail hereinafter. Blocking plate 28 is mounted for reciprocating movement in a slot 30. More particularly, the plate is mounted for sliding movement between a chute blocking position (FIG. 2) and a chute unblocking position (FIG. 3). If the customer makes an error or accidently places the wrong tape in chute 20, the tape can be retrieved and replaced on a shelf 13 so long as plate 28 remains in blocking position.

Suitable mechanism is provided to move plate 28 to its unblocking position and eventually completely unblock chute 20 responsive to a token or key such as handleless stub key 32. The stub key 32 is inserted fully into the keyhole 22 to abut stop member 33 to the position shown in FIG. 2 so that the key outer end is flush with the keyhole opening at the front of the lock construction 24 whereby the key cannot be manually retrieved. Wings 34 are provided on a lock barrel 36 of the lock construction 24 to then turn the lock barrel very slightly from lock closed" position (FIG. 2) to the lock "open" position (FIG. 3). Generally, the lock construction is of the widely known and used tumbler type whereby the tumblers are properly aligned by the key teeth to thereby permit rotation of the lock barrel 36 relative to a surrounding lock housing 38.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, pushrod 26 is mounted for axial sliding movement on frame member 40 between outward (FIG. 2) and inward (FIG. 3) positions. A blocking system is provided to normally retain the pushrod in its outward position. The blocking system is shown in the form of two axially spaced lugs 42 and 44 defining a receiving gap at 46 therebetween for receiving a latch member 48 as seen in FIG. 2. Latch member 48 has a slightly elongated slot 50 which receives a .pivot pin 52 on frame member 54 mounting latch member 48 for pivotal movement and limited sliding movement in a direction generally parallel to pushrod 26. A compression spring 56 grounded on a suitable frame member 58 biases latch member 48 into gap 46 to re tain the pushrod normally against sliding movement.

Secured to barrel 36 for movement therewith is a tripping arm 60 having bore 62 through which a reduced diameter portion 26a of pushrod 26 extends when pushrod 26 is in its normal outward position (FIG. 2). When the lock barrel moves to open position, arm 60 moves from an idle position (FIG. 2) to engage and depress a finger 64 secured to latch 48 and move latch 48 out of gap 46 (FIG. 3) to unlock pushrod 26 when the lock tumbler barrel is rotated to open position. When latch member 48 moves out of gap 46, spring 56 urges latch member 48 very slightly forward as permitted by slot 50 and urges arm 60 via finger 64 toward its normal position as soon as wings 34 are released. The end of latch member 48 comes to rest on camming surface 42a of lug 42 immediately adjacent gap 46. As pushrod 26 is pushed inwardly, latch 48 rides on surface 42a. An enlarged portion 26b of pushrod 26 is provided just slightly smaller than port 62 and merges with reduced portion 26a through a conical camming surface 26c which engages the edge of port 62 as pushrod 26 is pushed inwardly to cam arm 60 back to its normal position and return barrel 36 to locked position.

A conventional one-way trip ratchet and compression spring system 64 is provided to prevent the user from pushing the pushrod 26 only partway in and to return the pushrod 26 outwardly after each use. During return of the pushrod, latch 48 rides on surface 42a toward gap 46. The momentum of pushrod 26 during its return movement is sufficient to slightly override its normal locked position so that latch member 48 rides the full length of surface 42a and enters gap 46 under the urging of spring 56. The override creates a slight tension in the spring system 64 to bounce pushrod very slightly inwardly to its normal locked position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, pushrod 26 operates an escapement mechanism which limits the customer to one stereo tape per key. Accordingly, pushrod 26 is provided with an upstanding arm 66 which is connected pivotally to one end of a link 68, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a crank member 70 secured to one end of shaft 72. Shaft 72 is journalled in a pair of frame flanges 74 and 76 for rotational movement and is secured at its other end to a yoke 78. One end of yoke 78 is pivotally connected to the blocking plate 28 and the opposite end is pivotally connected to a second blocking plate 80. Blocking plate 80 is slidably mounted in a slot 82 for movement into chute 20 to a blocking position as seen in FIG. 3. Appropriately. the plates 28 and 80 could be rod members reciprocal in complementary holes in chute 20.

When handle 52 is pushed inward to the position in FIG. 3, arm 66 on pushrod 26 pulls link 68 to pivot crank member 70 and rotate shaft 72. The shaft 72 pivots yoke 64 to withdraw blocking plate 28 from chute 20 and push blocking plate 80 to its blocking position within chute 20. The stereo tape 14 drops from blocking plate 28 and falls onto blocking plate 80. When the handle then returns forwardly, blocking plate 80 is returned to unblocking position and the stereo tape is released through chute 20 while blocking plate 28 returns to its blocking position. The space between blocking plates 28 and 80 is sized such as to contain only one stereo tape at a time so that a customer cannot obtain more than one tape per key. Chute is provided with a lower lip 20a to stop the delivered stereo tape so that it will not fall to the floor. The customer merely reaches into the open end of chute 20 to retrieve his purchased tape.

For the purpose of accepting or withdrawing the stub key 32 from keyhole 22 into the interior of the cabinet 10, stub key 32 is provided with an end hook portion or element 320 (FIG. 2) at its distal end. A flange member 84 is secured along with stop member 33 to one end of a slide bar 86 which is mounted for sliding movement in a suitable frame member 88. The other end of slide bar 86 is provided with a slot 90 which receives a pivot pin 92 at one end of a rigid cross arm 94 which has its other end secured to pushrod 26.

A compression spring 96 urges slide bar 86 normally against an abutment on frame member 88 in proper alignment for hooking engagement with hook element 320. A tension spring 98 urges slide bar 86 rearward to normally seat the forward end of slot 90 against pivot pin 92. Tension spring 98 also assists in returning slide bar 26 slightly rearward once latch member 48 is engaged in gap 46.

As a stub key 32 is inserted fully into keyhole 22 to abut against stop member 33, the sloped key end cams flange 84 and slide bar 86 slightly to the right in FIG. 2 against the urging of spring 96 until the hooking element 32a passes flange 84 whereupon flange 84 snaps over the hooking element 32a to the position shown in FIG. 2.

As seen in FIG. 3, each time pushrod 26 is pushed inwardly carrying cross arm 94 with it, cross arm 94 permits tension spring 98 to pull slide bar 86 inward with flange 84 in engagement with the hooking element 84 to pull the stub key 32 from keyhole 22 and the stub key falls to the bottom of cabinet 10. Later the stub key can be retrieved for reuse by unlocking a panel door (not shown) on cabinet 10.

We claim:

1. For use in vending machines or other lockable storage devices having an article storage area and article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, a lock construction comprising: lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole for receiving an operable key means for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means and means operably associated with said delivery means for positively engaging and moving said key means after use from the keyhole and inwardly within the vending machine.

2. The lock construction of claim 1 wherein said withdrawing means operates automatically in response to operation of said delivery means.

3. The lock construction of claim 1 wherein said key means is a handleless key which when inserted into the keyhole is generally flush with the outer extent of the keyhole so that the key means cannot be retrieved from the keyhole.

4. The lock construction of claim 3 including stop means for blocking delivery of said key means through the keyhole and into the interior of the vending machine prior to operation of said withdrawing means.

5. A vending machine having an article storage area, article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, lock means normally de-activating said article delivery "means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole for receiving an operable key means for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means, and means operatively associated with said delivery means for withdrawing said key means after use from the keyhole and inwardly within the vending machine.

6. A vending machine for dispensing an article, which device comprises an enclosure for containing a plurality of the articles, opening means for access to the enclosure interior in the form of an opening smaller than any of said articles, article receiver means in said enclosure for receiving one of said articles placed therein from within the enclosure, operable delivery means for delivery of articles from the article receiver to the vending machine exterior, lock means normally deactivating said delivery means, key means for said lock means fully receivable by the lock means against retrieval, manually grippable means on said lock means for opening the lock means with the key means fully received therein to activate said delivery means, and means engaging the fully received key means for withdrawing the key means into the vending machine responsive to operation of said delivery means.

7. For use in vending machines or other lockable storage devices having an article storage area and article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, a lock construction comprising: lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole slot in a rotatable barrel for receiving an operable key means and grippable opposing wing members for turning the barrel with the key inserted in the slot for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means and means operably associated with said delivery means for withdrawing said key means after use inwardly within the vending machine.

8. A vending machine having an article storage area, article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole formed in a rotatable barrel for receiving an operable key means for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means, and means operatively associated with said delivery means for withdrawing said key means after use inwardly within the vending machine, said delivery means comprising a chute having an escapement mechanism for releasing one article at a time through the chute, a pushrod for operating said escapement mechanism, and a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs on the pushrod; said lock means also including an arm secured to said barrel for movement therewith from a locked and pushrod blocking position between the spaced lugs and an unlocked and pushrod unblocking position removed from the spaced lugs; and said means operatively associated with said delivery means comprises a slide bar connected to said pushrod for movement therewith, said slide bar having an end flange for engaging an end lobe on the key for pulling the key through the keyhole into the vending machine interior each time the pushrod is used to operate said escapement mechanism.

keyhole in the device and having a hook element for engaging the withdrawing means whereby the key is pulled into the device by the withdrawing means, said hook element being at the distal end of the stub key.

i i 11' 1 I! 

1. For use in vending machines or other lockable storage devices having an article storage area and article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, a lock construction comprising: lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole for receiving an operable key means for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means and means operably associated with said delivery means for positively engaging and moving said key means after use from the keyhole and inwardly within the vending machine.
 2. The lock construction of claim 1 wherein said withdrawing means operates automatically in response to operation of said delivery means.
 3. The lock construction of claim 1 wherein said key means is a handleless key which when inserted into the keyhole is generally flush with the outer extent of the keyhole so that the key means cannot be retrieved from the keyhole.
 4. The lock construction of claim 3 including stop means for blocking delivery of said key means through the keyhole and into the interior of the vending machine prior to operation of said withdrawing means.
 5. A vending machine having an article storage area, article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole for receiving an operable key means for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means, and means operatively associated with said delivery means for withdrawing said key means after use from the keyhole and inwardly within the vending machine.
 6. A vending machine for dispensing an article, which device comprises an enclosure for containing a plurality of the articles, opening means for access to the enclosure interior in the form of an opening smaller than any of said articles, article receiver means in said enclosure for receiving one of said articles placed therein from within the enclosure, operable delivery means for delivery of articles from the article receiver to the vending machine exterior, lock means normally de-activating said delivery means, key means for said lock means fully receivable by the lock means against retrieval, manually grippable means on said lock means for opening the lock means with the key means fully received therein to activate said delivery means, and means engaging the fully received key means for withdrawing the key means into the vendiNg machine responsive to operation of said delivery means.
 7. For use in vending machines or other lockable storage devices having an article storage area and article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, a lock construction comprising: lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole slot in a rotatable barrel for receiving an operable key means and grippable opposing wing members for turning the barrel with the key inserted in the slot for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means and means operably associated with said delivery means for withdrawing said key means after use inwardly within the vending machine.
 8. A vending machine having an article storage area, article delivery means operable to deliver a selected article from said storage area to the exterior of said machine, lock means normally de-activating said article delivery means when said lock means is in a locked condition, said lock means having a keyhole formed in a rotatable barrel for receiving an operable key means for opening the lock means to activate the delivery means, and means operatively associated with said delivery means for withdrawing said key means after use inwardly within the vending machine, said delivery means comprising a chute having an escapement mechanism for releasing one article at a time through the chute, a pushrod for operating said escapement mechanism, and a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs on the pushrod; said lock means also including an arm secured to said barrel for movement therewith from a locked and pushrod blocking position between the spaced lugs and an unlocked and pushrod unblocking position removed from the spaced lugs; and said means operatively associated with said delivery means comprises a slide bar connected to said pushrod for movement therewith, said slide bar having an end flange for engaging an end lobe on the key for pulling the key through the keyhole into the vending machine interior each time the pushrod is used to operate said escapement mechanism.
 9. A vending machine or other lockable storage device in combination with a stub key for unlocking the device wherein the device has means for withdrawing the key into the device, which stub key consists essentially of a stiff member for complete insertion into a keyhole in the device and having a hook element for engaging the withdrawing means whereby the key is pulled into the device by the withdrawing means, said hook element being at the distal end of the stub key. 